Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Vulcan Time Bronze,’ having a good uniform canopy of bronze single flowers expressing a central longitudinal yellow striping and a yellow base around a light green disc. The new variety has a medium tall vigor, free branching, uniform spreading habit and good foliage presentation.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is ‘Vulcan Time Bronze.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, and referred to by the cultivar name ‘Vulcan Time Bronze.’

‘Vulcan Time Bronze,’ identified as 20247-2, originated from a naturally occurring whole plant mutation grown in a controlled planting of the variety ‘Vulcan Time’ (U.S. Plant patent application Publication No. US 2003/0009809), in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom. The new variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant variety having bronze single flowers expressing a central longitudinal yellow striping and a yellow base around a light disc.

Comparison with Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ are similar to the parent ‘Vulcan Time’ in plant habitat and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ differed from the plants of the parent ‘Vulcan Time’ in the following characteristics.

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ produces bronze single         flowers whereas the parent ‘Vulcan Time’ produces red single         flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ have similar         inflorescence to the plants of the parent ‘Vulcan Time.’

Comparison with Other Varieties

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ are similar to the unpatented ‘Virunga Bronze’ in plant habit and growth rate. However in side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ differed from plants of ‘Virunga Bronze’ in the following characteristics.

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ produces dark bronze         single flowers whereas ‘Virunga Bronze’ produces bronze flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ have larger         and taller inflorescence than plants of ‘Virunga Bronze.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ are shown in the accompanying digital photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 60 days from the commencement of Short Days.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vulcan Time Bronze’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom in the month of May. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance in genotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a pot Chrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 19° C. at night and about 17° C. to 24° C. during the day under light conditions of about 5000 to 6000 foot candles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant, such as B9 treatment at about 2 g per liter. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. The typical container size for commercial growth is 1 liter. It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with a response time of about 8 weeks. The new variety is suitable for growth in a temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

The new variety may be produced as a spray. The following description is with respect to a plant produced as a pot Chrysanthemum. In the description of this new Chrysanthemum variety, color values have been taken The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

-   Plant type: Pot. -   Habit: Upright. -   Height: 28 cm. -   Width: 32 cm. -   Branching characteristics: Upright and free branching. -   Length of lateral branches: 17 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.5 cm. -   Texture of lateral branches: Slightly pubescent. -   Number of breaks from pinch: 5. -   Stem color: 137B. -   Response time: 56 days. -   Vigor: Medium/tall. -   Shelf life: 21 days. -   Disease/pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to     date. -   Growth retardant type and treatment: 3 applications of 2.5 gm/liter     B9 @2, 21 and 28 days after sticking unrooted cuttings.

The plants were grown for 2 weeks in Long Day conditions (20 hours of light) and then transferred to Short Day conditions (13 hours of dark).

-   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative propagation via stem cuttings.         -   Time to rooting.—14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.         -   Rooting habit.—After 7 Long Days the first roots emerge and             form root primordia. In 14 Long Days a complete root system             is developed.

Foliage

-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 12. -   Compound or single: Single. -   Arrangement of leaves: Alternate.     -   -   Shape of leaf.—Typically 5 lobed ovate.         -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 4 Length (cm): 6.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Attachment.—Petioled.         -   Aspect.—Slight undulating.         -   Margin.—Palmately lobed.         -   Surface characteristics.—Top: slightly pubescent. Bottom:             Pubescent. -   Petiole:     -   -   Color.—137B.         -   Length.—2.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent. -   Venation: Net prominent mid-vein at underside.     -   -   Color.—Upper side: near 144B. Under side: near 144B. -   Color:     -   -   Mature leaf, upper side.—Near 137B; under side: near 138A.         -   Young leaf, upper side.—Near 137A; under side: near 137C.

Flower

-   Flower appearance: Matte. -   Flower type: Single. -   Flower form: Slightly cupped. -   Flower shape: Round. -   Flowering habit: Domed capitulum. -   Number of blossoms per branch: 5. -   Inflorescence form: Cyme.     -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms.—2 cm.         -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms.—7 cm. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Number.—20.         -   Color.—Near 137B.         -   Length.—0.7 to 1.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.1 to 0.3 cm.         -   Texture/appearance.—Pubescent. -   Peduncle: Peduncle length is shortest at the terminal flower and     progressively longer moving down the stem.     -   -   Length.—12 cm (average).         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near 137B.         -   Surface.—Pubescent.         -   Habit.—Slightly curving.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Terminal: 3 cm; lateral: 4.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near 137B.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Surface.—Pubescent.         -   Habit.—Slightly curving.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Form/shape.—Straight and spatulate with oblong shape.         -   Texture/appearance.—Matte.         -   Number per flower.—30.         -   Length.—3.5 cm; Width: 1 cm.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Tapered.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Form/shape.—Cylindric.         -   Texture/appearance.—Shiny.         -   Number per flower.—150.         -   Length.—0.6 cm; Width: 0.1 cm.         -   Diameter of disc.—1.3 cm. -   Fragrance: None. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Length.—0.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.1 cm.         -   Form/shape.—Globular. -   General flower color:     -   -   1. Ray florets, upper side.—Immature: near 41B expressing a             central longitudinal striping 24C. Mature: near 41B             expressing a central longitudinal striping 24C and base 24C.             Older/Fading: near 40D expressing a central longitudinal             striping 24D and base 24D.         -   2. Ray florets, under side.—Immature: near 26C. Mature: near             26C. Older/Fading: near 24C.         -   3. Disc florets.—Immature: near 151B. Mature: near 6A.             Older/Fading: near 6A.         -   4. Bud.—22B. -   Flower progression with age: Flower form does not change but there     is slight color change with age. -   Lastingness of blooms: About 21 days.

Reproductive Organs

-   Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets. -   Ray florets per individual flower:     -   -   Pistil number.—30.         -   Stigma color.—Near 6C.         -   Stigma shape.—Forked.         -   Style color.—Near 6C.         -   Style length.—0.3 cm. -   Disc florets per individual flower:     -   -   Pistil number.—120.         -   Stigma color.—Near 6C.         -   Stigma shape.—Forked.         -   Style color.—Near 6C.         -   Style length.—0.3 cm. -   Androecium: Not observed. -   Fruit and seeds: None observed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 